Her Quiet Resolve

The soft dawn light crept over the horizon, casting a pale glow on the world still wrapped in the quiet embrace of morning. The pavement gleamed from the remnants of last night's rain, reflecting the distant streetlights' faint glow like dim stars scattered across the ground. The air hung still, holding its breath before the day truly began. Students stood scattered, their figures barely visible in the early morning haze, waiting—each lost in their own thoughts, the only sound the quiet shuffle of feet against wet concrete.

Rose couldn't stand still. She bounced on the balls of her feet, her arms swinging with energy as she tried to compose herself but quickly snapped into excitement. "Can you believe it, Claire? We did it!" She clapped her hands together, her grin stretching from ear to ear as she twirled forward, only to stop abruptly to face Claire, making the blonde blush deeply in embarrassment.

Her eyes sparkled as she practically jumped in place. "We're attending the academy—the academy! It's like a dream come true!" She spun around again, her hair flying behind her, and for a moment, it seemed like she might leap into the air. Pausing, her hands shot to her hips, and she leaned in, her whole body vibrating with barely contained excitement. "Come on, tell me you're as excited as I am!"

Claire, ever so shy, glanced up slightly, her gaze quickly flickering away. She forced a small smile, her cheeks flushed. Her hands clasped together in front of her, fingers tightly curling as her body shifted slightly, her stance stiff. She wanted to match Rose's enthusiasm, but it felt like the world around her was too loud, too big. She couldn't help but look down again, her voice barely above a whisper. "Y-yeah... I'm excited too..."

Rose turned toward the road, leaning forward with her hand pressed to her forehead. She squinted into the distance, like a pirate scanning the horizon for a distant island. The heat of impatience built within her, her body practically vibrating with the anticipation. With a sigh, she stretched her arms, then leaned slightly toward the road, snapping her fingers with a sharp motion as if lighting a match. A small flame flickered from her fingertips, but she quickly jolted her hand to snuff it out. She repeated the action, each flicker and extinguish a way to ease the restless energy surging through her.

"Eeee... Come on, come on, come on already!" Rose leaned back and forth, her excitement palpable as she waited, bouncing on her heels.

Claire, on the other hand, couldn't help but smile at the sight of Rose's energetic impatience. Quietly, she opened her purse and took out her journal, pulling out the pen wedged inside like a bookmark. She shook her head slightly, stealing a brief glance at Rose, whose excitement was as contagious as it was uncontainable. But then, Claire's attention returned to her journal, and she began tapping the back of her pen repeatedly against the open page. Her gaze darted upward, a pout forming on her face as she searched for something to write. Rose squealed with delight, joined by the other students around her, but to Claire, everything else felt like a blur. The only thing clear was the blank page in front of her.

Then, like a bolt of lightning, a thought struck Claire. She glanced toward her purse, using her pointer finger to nudge aside the contents to reveal her phone. Her face briefly lit up with anticipation, as if expecting a message or call. But, before she could react, she quickly looked away, the moment slipping just as fast as it had come.

Suddenly, the air was pierced by a deafening explosion nearby. The shockwave rocked both Claire and Rose, snapping them out of their respective trances—Rose's excitement and Claire's peaceful reverie. They whipped their heads toward the source, their eyes wide in disbelief as another explosion ripped through the air, sending shards of glass cascading from the jewelry store ahead.

The explosion blasted through the front windows, the violent force pushing the remnants of glass outward, the flash of fire briefly illuminating the scene. Just as quickly as it had erupted, a figure emerged from the wreckage. A robber, clad in dark clothes, scrambled out with a sack bulging with stolen goods. Before anyone could react, he whipped his hand back and fired a fireball into the store, the flames igniting a third explosion that shook the street. The force of it sent a gust of heat through the air as the thief darted off, vanishing into the distance.

"See ya, suckers!" The robber called out, his voice dripping with ego and confidence as he disappeared into the chaos.

"Help! That guy's getting away!" The store owner, covered in black ash, staggered out of the debris. He yelled frantically, waving his arms as panic took hold. His voice broke through the stunned silence of the moment, but it was too late—the robber was already long gone.

Claire stood frozen, her usual shyness overwhelming her. She hesitated, her body jittering with unease, her gaze dropping as her face reflected the fear coursing through her. She wanted to help, needed to help, yet her trembling hands and racing heart felt as though they were anchoring her in place. But despite her fear, something within her stirred—a quiet, insistent pull urging her to act.

With a soft inhale, she lifted her head, steeling herself. She took a hesitant step forward, but before she could move any further, Rose's hand gently but firmly wrapped around her arm. Claire turned, meeting her friend's gaze, her face uncertain, caught between her instinct to act and her hesitation.

"I know that look…" Rose said softly, her voice losing its usual playful lilt. Concern flickered in her eyes, replacing the excitement that had previously lit her up. "Don't… Y'know we'll be late…"

Claire's voice faltered, barely a whisper as she glanced back toward the robber, her desire to help battling against her doubt. "B-but…"

Rose watched Claire closely, understanding the inner turmoil swirling in her friend's eyes. It was so clear—the overwhelming urge to help, the undeniable pull to do what was right. Even with her hands trembling, Claire's determination shone through, her fear momentarily giving way to a surge of will. Rose could see it so clearly. Nothing could hold her back now.

With a soft sigh, Rose released her grip on Claire's arm, her expression soft but reassuring. 

"Uh, a-are you… sure?" Claire's voice trembled, a mixture of uncertainty and quiet hope.

Rose smiled, her confidence shining through as she gave a little shrug. "I can't stop you, even if I tried, can I?" she teased, before placing her hands on her hips. In a mock-serious tone, she added, "And don't give me that look. Go!"

Claire's eyes, once full of doubt, now sparkled with newfound resolve. Her lips twitched into a shy but confident smile, and with a swift movement, she grabbed her bow from her back, ready to act. She gave Rose one last glance, a bright wave before she bolted forward.

"I'll be back in a bit, capisce?! Take my luggage and go on the bus, I'll catch up!" Claire called out, her voice light and cheerful, like a child waving goodbye to their mother before going off to school. 

Rose stood still for a moment, her heart warmed by the unexpected confidence in her friend's words. As Claire sprinted ahead, Rose's gaze shifted awkwardly to the students around her. Some watched in surprise, others in curiosity. The attention made her flush with embarrassment. Scratching the back of her head, she chuckled nervously, trying to shrug it off.

"Gosh... I hope she'll be alright," Rose sighed, her voice tinged with nervous laughter.

Meanwhile, Claire had already turned back, nocking an arrow to her bow as her chase quickened. Her movements became more fluid with each stride, her yellow hair and clothes fluttering in the wind. The strands of her hair brushed across her face, annoying her. She blew them away with an exasperated puff, quickly shaking her head to clear her vision.

There, ahead, the robber appeared in her sights, and she gave chase.

"H-hey! Mister!" Claire called out, her voice shaky at first before she steadied it.

As she sprinted forward, her foot caught on a can on the sidewalk, sending her sprawling backward. Her hands flailed, one clutching the bow and the other the arrow, as a stack of newspapers scattered around her. They flew up and slowly drifted back down, landing across her face. With a frustrated puff, she blew the papers off, revealing a red-hot blush as she pouted angrily.

"HMPTTTT..." Claire grumbled, her frustration palpable as she lay there for a moment, cheeks flushed.

She took a deep breath to calm herself, eyes closing briefly. With a swift motion, she kicked off the ground, launching herself into a perfect stance. In one fluid motion, she sprinted forward, aiming for a nearby light pole. She kicked off it, propelling herself to the side. Grabbing hold of a store sign, she used it as a springboard to catapult herself onto the rooftop.

From the roof, she had a clear view of the robber, who looked up for a split second before turning back in panic, clutching the stolen bag of valuables.

Drawing her bow once more, Claire narrowed her eyes, a flicker of determination crossing her face.

"D-don't make me do this," Claire said, her voice still trembling but with a firm edge. "Just… j-just drop the bag, and we can pretend this didn't happen."

Her voice softened slightly, but the resolve behind it was unmistakable. She fired the arrow toward the robber's path, startling him. He glanced up toward the rooftops, only to find she was gone. As he turned to run again, Claire appeared in front of him, her bow drawn and aimed directly at him.

"I don't want to h-hurt you, but I won't let you get away with this either. S-so… bring those back. N-now!"

The bandit hesitated, his eyes narrowing in disbelief. With a scoff, he sneered. "What? Surrender to some weakling like you?" He laughed, his voice dripping with arrogance, before dropping the stolen bag. His fist flared with fire, mana surging around him, preparing for a fight. "Not happening."

Claire's face flushed with disappointment, her heart sinking. She bit her lip, unsure of how to react. "Oh… okay…" she mumbled, her voice trailing off as she turned away, shoulders slumped with the weight of his rejection.

But the bandit froze. His eyes widened, and he quickly snapped, "Wait, what?! You're just gonna give up like that?" His frustration grew, and his voice rose. "Wait… You're gaslighting me, aren't you?" His face contorted in disbelief, his anger building as he pointed at her.

Claire blinked, confused, still oblivious to his accusations. "Huh?"

The bandit's expression flickered with exasperation, clearly thrown off by Claire's lack of reaction. In a fit of frustration, he threw a fiery punch toward her. Claire dodged swiftly to the side, then leaped backward, narrowly avoiding the strike. For a brief moment, she caught a glimpse of the bus they were waiting for as it passed by, but quickly snapped her focus back to the fight.

"Never mind..." the bandit muttered under his breath, growing more irritated by the second.

Claire, still oblivious to his growing rage, smiled faintly, her grip firm on her bow as she readied another arrow. "Well, I guess this is how it's gonna be," she declared softly, her voice steadier now, despite her usual shyness.

Meanwhile, Rose nervously tapped her foot on the floor, pacing even faster than before. She snapped her fingers like a match to cast a small fire, which she extinguished quickly. The bus screeched to a halt in front of her, its tires skidding slightly before the doors swung open. Rose stood awkwardly at the curb, pressing her lips together in frustration towards Claire as the students around her excitedly boarded. She cast a quick glance toward the crowd, her brows furrowed in worry, before sighing and stepping aboard, trying to shake off the unease.

At that moment, Claire faced off against the robber, her bow drawn tightly as she dodged his fiery attacks. Her movements were swift, but her usual awkwardness caused her to nearly lose her footing for a moment. A soft gasp escaped her lips, but she quickly caught herself and steadied her aim.

With a deep breath, she fired. The arrow struck the robber in the shoulder, and for a brief moment, faint blue light shimmered around him before it flickered and disappeared. He staggered back with a sharp wince, his hand clutching his shoulder as the once-glowing energy around him began to fade.

"You're... not getting away," Claire muttered, her voice trembling but firm.

The robber grunted, trying to shake off the blow. His attacks faltered, and he hesitated, his energy dimming as if the barrier protecting him had weakened.

As she caught her breath, realization struck. "The bus!" Claire realized she had battled for too long and most likely the bus had already left. Her face flushed with embarrassment and panic as she quickly turned to the bystanders around her. "C-could you please... call the authorities?" she stammered, offering a shy wave before darting off, her feet moving faster than her thoughts.

"Geez..." She caught a glimpse of the bus stop they were waiting at, now empty. With a burst of adrenaline, Claire dashed into the street, her movements fluid despite her usual awkwardness. She saw the bus driving off in the distance. "I'm never gonna reach them at this pace!" Claire exclaimed in frustration before stopping to catch her breath, ducking down with her hands on her knees. Her strands of yellow hair covered her face, which annoyed her, so she blew it away. Looking up, she spotted a nearby building, and with a quick shake of her head, she smiled.

Leaping up onto the building, she used it as a springboard, springing from rooftop to rooftop with surprising speed. The wind whipped through her hair as she glanced ahead, spotting the bus in the distance. Panting heavily, she raced toward the next bus stop, her heart pounding in her chest. She arrived just as the bus began to move, narrowly avoiding being left behind. Out of breath, she twirled, trying to mask her exhaustion as she strolled casually toward the door, as though nothing had happened, before walking inside alongside the other students waiting for the same bus.

As the bustling noise of the airship faded into the background, Rose spotted Claire finally entering and let out a quiet sigh of relief. She watched her friend walk towards the empty seat beside her. Claire, her features worn from the day's excitement, offered a soft smile, her weariness evident as she settled into the seat near the window. Her body seemed to deflate with exhaustion as she leaned her head against the cool surface of the glass, the fresh air from the open window helping to ease her nerves.

"Hehe... I did it..." Claire murmured, her voice dry, but there was a faint sense of quiet pride as she raised her small fist into the air, as if celebrating her accomplishment. Rose let out a soft chuckle in response.

"I guess you did..." she replied, a teasing smirk tugging at the corner of her lips.

Claire smiled back, though it was a bit weary, and then leaned forward slightly. Her gaze drifted to the open window as the wind gently swept across her face, her yellow hair fluttering in the breeze. The world outside blurred into a shifting canvas of shadows and light, and for a brief moment, she allowed herself to simply exist in the calm, her thoughts wandering with the rhythm of the passing scenery. Soft hums escaped her lips, a reflection of her peaceful state.

But her reverie was interrupted as a stray strand of hair brushed across her face, tugging her back to reality. With a groan, she sat back into the seat, slightly frustrated.

"Hmpft..." she muttered, irritated at the way the hair clung to her face. Reaching out, she tapped the window handle and quickly slid it shut with a sharp motion, the action final, as if she were closing off the last remnants of her fleeting moment of peace.

Rose chuckled quietly, clearly amused by Claire's messy hair and frustrated pout. Claire, now slightly annoyed, shot her a sideways glance.

"What?" Claire asked, her tone sharp.

"Nothing..." Rose replied, her voice playful as she tried to hide her grin.

Claire raised an eyebrow, her irritation clear. "Really?"

Rose simply shrugged, still smiling. "Yeah, it's just..." She paused, chuckling again, "You look cute when you're all flustered."

Claire huffed in response, brushing her hair from her face and finger-combing it back into some order. She glanced at the window once more, her gaze briefly drifting before she turned back to her purse. Slowly, she pulled out her brown journal, opening it to an empty page. Her pen twirled idly in her fingers as the bus rumbled on, the uneven road causing small jolts as the air grew heavier.

Yet despite the bumps and the motion of the bus, Claire felt a soft smile tug at her lips. Absorbed in the pages of her journal, she couldn't help but twirl her pen thoughtfully, her eyes a mixture of excitement and nervousness. The autumn wind swept through the bus, tousling her long yellow hair and blocking her view, a slight irritation that she could do little about. Despite the closed window meant to shield them, the cold wind of September still managed to sneak through, making her feel the full brunt of the season's change.

It was now 6:00 in the morning, and the bus was steadily moving through the Stracia Outskirts, its destination unknown to most of the students except for Claire, who had been told about the airship waiting to transport them to the academy. Other buses carrying different classes of students were heading in the same direction, creating an air of collective anticipation.

Claire instinctively brushed the strands of hair that the wind pushed into her eyes, her fingers smoothing the strands out of the way. The bus's tires hit bumps and rocks, adding to the rumbles of the journey. Despite the exhaustion from earlier events, her heart fluttered with excitement. After all, who wouldn't be excited? She was about to embark on a journey to one of the most prestigious academies in their continent of Stacia, perhaps even in the entire Luminora. The thought filled her with a quiet sense of purpose.

Her excitement was mirrored by Rose, who pressed her face against the window, practically vibrating with anticipation beside her.

"Um... I thought, you know, joining the academy might... maybe teach her a bit of decency?" Claire said softly, her voice trailing off, as she gave her friend a hesitant nudge. She quickly looked away, feeling a little embarrassed by her own words.

She muttered to herself, a shy grin tugging at the corners of her lips. Glancing at her friend, she twirled her pen between her fingers, a nervous habit that always seemed to distract her when she was deep in thought. Her gaze softened with affectionate amusement as she watched her friend eagerly press her face against the bus window, her excitement infectious despite Claire's quiet demeanor.

"Well, I guess... I can't really say the students around us are setting much of a higher bar," Claire mumbled, offering a soft chuckle, her voice barely above a whisper as she nudged her friend awkwardly.

She shrugged and giggled nervously, quickly pressing her hand to her mouth, as if trying to hide the grin that formed. After a moment, she let her hand fall, her smile soft and a little shy. Returning to her journal, Claire closed her eyes as the world seemed to blur around her. Her nervousness and shyness faded away, and she began narrating her thoughts in her head, composing a message to her mom within the pages of her journal.

"Hi, Mom," she wrote. "It's been a while since you gave me this diary. Things have been hectic, but I'm finally here! I joined the Celestial Sword Academy, just like you. Oh, and about the bow you gave me, Tearful Embrace – yes, I finally named it. Took me a while, didn't it? Well, that's just me, after all. And I also have your rapier... I want to follow in your footsteps."

She paused, lost in thought for a moment, before continuing.

"Anyway, back to the topic. I've heard great things about this academy from my middle school. Heroes attended here, and my best friend and I have been waiting our whole lives for this moment. She's very excited, as usual. Before coming here, though, I ran into a bit of trouble. Maybe more than a bit. Okay, maybe a lot, but it wasn't intentional, I swear!"

She quickly interjected, her voice light with a nervous laugh. "But, um, let's not dwell on that... It's finally happening, and I don't want to ruin the excitement. Besides, maybe it's for the best not to think about it too much."

Her pen hovered over the journal, poised to continue, but then she paused again. A sudden wave of unease washed over her, freezing her hand in place. It felt like there was something she couldn't, or perhaps shouldn't, remember. So she let it go, pushing the unsettling thoughts aside. She convinced herself it was better not to dwell on them too much.

"Claire! Come on! Look! It's freaking gigantic!" Rose exclaimed, her pink hair bouncing with her energy. She pointed toward the distant reddish airship, its sails hinting at white in the breeze, her voice charged with excitement as she practically buzzed with enthusiasm.

"What... is gigantic?" Claire asked, her eyes twinkling with amusement, though her voice betrayed a flicker of shyness. She closed her journal and tucked the pen carefully between the pages where she had left off.

Claire Aihara, a student at Celestial Sword Academy, had always dreamt of becoming a hero like the characters she admired—heroes like her mother. She wore the academy's blue, white, and yellow uniform, though she had personalized it with a longer skirt to keep her modesty intact, unlike the others who preferred shorter ones. Her long-sleeve blouse, buttoned up with a splash of yellow, made her stand out from the more cropped, skin-baring versions. Rose, on the other hand, added playful touches to her own uniform—hearts on her sleeves, a splash of pink in the accents—her vibrant energy always shining through.

As Claire's gaze followed Rose's pointing finger, she felt a wave of awe at the sight of the airship. Her pulse quickened, her heart thudding with anticipation. This was it—the dream she had been chasing, the dream her mother had once followed. And beside her was Rose, who, though driven by her own ambition, was more than willing to follow Claire wherever this journey would take them.

"You know what I'm talking about! It's the big airship! I've only seen one on TV and the internet, and now we're actually gonna ride on it!" Rose's exasperation broke through her excitement, her impatience clear as she turned back to Claire and placed her hands on Claire's waist with a mock bossiness. "And you almost missed the bus!"

Claire's cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she froze, her posture stiffening in shock. Her wide eyes and the slight tremble of her fingers made it clear that she hadn't fully processed how close she'd come to missing it. She shifted awkwardly, hands lifting in an open, defensive gesture as she stammered, "Eh...?"

"Oh, don't 'eh' me!" Rose shot back, laughing with a mix of frustration and amusement. "We're gonna have a long talk about this after we get to the academy!"

Claire's eyes widened with guilt. "I c-can't help it, capisce? There was a bad guy, what was I supposed to do?!"

Rose softened a little, chuckling as she patted Claire on the shoulder. "Alright, calm down…" Her expression warmed, and she smiled with affection. Brief memories of Claire's tendency to throw herself into situations like this flashed through her mind—her impulsiveness, her kindness, and how she always tried to do the right thing, even when it wasn't easy. Those thoughts quickly faded, though, as Rose's attention turned back toward the airship, her eyes sparkling with excitement once more.

Despite intermittent obstructions of trees, buildings, and passing vehicles, the anticipation in the air was palpable. The bus slowly came to a halt, signaling their arrival at the destination where the majestic airship awaited, ready to transport them to the eagerly anticipated academy.

Claire took a deep breath, her heart racing. The sight of the colossal airship before them made her eyes widen in awe, though her nerves flared as well. As other students began gathering their belongings, Rose seized Claire's arm, urging her to move.

Claire instinctively clutched her baggage—her bow, a quiver of arrows, and the large flat hourglass-shaped object—tighter to her chest, ready to walk into the unknown. But it felt like a child facing the unknown for the first time, her confidence tempered by her ever-present shyness.

"Come on, girl! Hurry!" Rose's voice, infused with both excitement and impatience, urged Claire forward.

The rush of Rose's energy caused a brief wave of awkwardness to pass over Claire, making her hesitate for a moment before she followed, smiling at her friend's infectious enthusiasm. But as they started to move, a sea of first-year students blocked their path. Claire's awkwardness quickly turned to shyness, and she slowed her pace, unsure of how to weave through the crowd without drawing attention to herself. The space between students felt overwhelming, and she couldn't help but feel out of place. Her shoulders hunched slightly, her fingers curling nervously around the straps of her bag as she tried to navigate the crowd.

"Geez, how are we supposed to pass through this?" Rose's voice, tinged with frustration, mirrored Claire's own unease. They both wrinkled their eyebrows, trying to inch forward through the throng of students, but Claire found it hard to focus with so many people around. The press of bodies, the constant chatter—it was like the world was closing in on her.

Claire bit her lip, her heart pounding. She hated making a scene, especially in such a big crowd. A pang of guilt settled in her chest, the thought of being slow or indecisive making her feel even more awkward. Maybe I should have been faster, she thought, her mind racing as she struggled to find a way through.

"Come on!" Rose's voice rang out with determination, shaking Claire from her thoughts. She turned to see Rose scanning the crowd, looking for a way forward. Rose stood on her tiptoes, trying to peer over the sea of heads, each person blocking their path like an obstacle in the way.

Claire stood still for a moment, unsure how to proceed. The thought of pushing through the crowd made her even more self-conscious. Her fingers twitched nervously, and she let out a quiet sigh, feeling helpless. I can't just stand here forever, she reminded herself, straightening up a bit. Still, she couldn't shake the feeling of being small in the vast crowd, as though she didn't quite belong.

As Claire scanned the crowded hallway for a way through, she took a few steps back, hoping to find a clear path. But her attempt to navigate the throng of students took an unexpected turn when she accidentally stepped on someone's foot. Before she could react, she felt the force of a hard chest behind her, causing her to stumble and fall, hitting her head against the floor. Her vision blurred for a moment before clearing again.

With a groan, Claire slowly pushed herself up, her long hair mussed from the fall. As she glanced behind her, she met the gaze of a black-haired student. His dark eyes betrayed little emotion, despite having fallen alongside her. His uniform, barely customized, was covered by a black coat that stood out among the crowd. He didn't say anything, but the frustration in his expression was clear, as if something heavy was weighing on him.

Claire, embarrassed and irritated, quickly dusted herself off. Did he mean to look at me like that? she wondered, trying to shake off the feeling of discomfort that lingered.

His gaze lingered for just a moment before he turned and disappeared into the crowd. Claire blinked, confusion bubbling up as she stood there, trying to make sense of the encounter. It wasn't just the look that unsettled her; something about the way he left so suddenly felt strange, as though he'd vanished too easily. She couldn't place why, but there was a fleeting sense of familiarity that made her uneasy.

Her cheeks still flushed with embarrassment, Claire forced herself to look away and take a breath.

"Look! We can get through!" Rose exclaimed, her excitement contagious as she pointed to a gap in the crowd.

Claire, grateful for the distraction, let herself be pulled along, her thoughts still lingering on the encounter. What was that? she wondered. But before she could dwell on it, the chaotic swarm of students finally began to thin. The memory of the black-haired student seemed to slip further from her thoughts.

As they reached the exit, Claire caught a brief glimpse of him again, just as the crowd parted. His figure was gone as quickly as it had appeared, leaving Claire with a brief feeling of unease she couldn't quite shake.

She shook her head and tried to focus. I can't think about that now, she told herself, but the sense of discomfort remained, tugging at her thoughts. As the bus rumbled on, Claire's mind wandered briefly back to the fleeting image of the mysterious student, his sword at his side. Before she could dwell on it further, Rose pinched her, snapping her out of her thoughts.

"Ow! Why'd you do that?" Claire yelped, a twinge of pain shooting through her hand as Rose's action snapped her out of her thoughts. She glanced at her friend, confusion and slight irritation mixing on her face, but mostly, her cheeks flushed a little from the sudden jolt.

Shaking off the remnants of her reverie, Claire found herself standing at the entrance of the airship, surrounded by students bustling around them. The noise and movement made her a little uncomfortable, her small figure almost shrinking in the overwhelming sea of activity.

"Hello, Earth to Claire, come on! Remember, boarding the ship?" Rose's voice cut through Claire's thoughts, pulling her back to the present moment. Claire blinked, unsure for a second of where she even was. She looked around, spotting the students with their luggage heading toward the airship. A flood of emotions rushed over her, a mix of excitement and anxiety.

"R-right… The airship," Claire murmured, her voice faltering slightly. She couldn't shake the nervousness welling up inside her. She didn't want to be rude to Rose, but the thought of so many people made her feel a little small and overwhelmed. Am I supposed to forget everything and just… go along with it? Claire's mind was racing, and it felt hard to keep up with her thoughts, but she forced a small, hesitant smile, trying to mask her unease.

Rose's infectious excitement made her feel even more awkward in contrast. Claire couldn't help but compare her own timidity to Rose's overflowing energy. Her heart beat faster as she followed Rose's lead, though a part of her felt unsure.

"Right, right… the airship," Claire repeated, her voice trailing off, barely louder than a whisper. She couldn't shake the mix of excitement and apprehension bubbling inside her. Her shyness was making it harder to focus on the joy of the moment.

"Geez, let's go! Come on, the airship will take off if we don't board soon!" Rose urged, pulling Claire along, her voice bubbling with excitement and impatience. Claire was pulled out of her reverie once more, but this time, she found herself moving forward, her heart pounding in her chest.

"Alright, g-geez, I'm going, capisce?" Claire muttered with a slight frown, her words coming out in a jumble of nerves. She wasn't quite sure what she was saying but hoped Rose would understand. The last thing she wanted was to make things awkward.

"Uh, sure... 'capisce,' whatever that means." Rose blinked, sounding a bit confused, but her grin didn't fade as she continued pulling Claire toward the airship. "Now come on! The airship's waiting!"

Claire's heart raced with a mix of excitement and nervousness, her hands trembling slightly as they moved forward. She could feel the weight of everything pressing down on her, but she couldn't deny the thrill of what was to come. As much as she wanted to express her excitement, her shyness held her back, but she was still moving, still walking forward.

"As I walked with Rose, I felt my heart race. It was like my chest might burst. This felt like a dream—except, well, it was real. Right there in front of me. I couldn't quite wrap my head around it. Geez, I'm probably overthinking it. I feel like I'm narrating the start of some grand adventure... But really, I think it's mine. My adventure," Claire thought, her emotions swirling with a mix of wonder and uncertainty. "Wait for me, Mom… capisce?"